Automatic phonograph



y 16, 1939- c. a. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 17. 193"! 6Sheets-Sheet l 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 C. G. JOHNSON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH FiledMay 17, 1937 QQN mm @vwi kw %w m/ i k i a. 2 may l1 LE QM. H w km QW WWS m Q N m 0 May 16, 1939.

y c. G. JOHNSON 2,158,328

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 1'7, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 16, 1939.

c. GYJOHNSAON AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May '17, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4May 16, 1939. c. ca. JOHNSON v 2,158,328

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 17, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6IIIIIIIIIIIIIHII" I I v W C(arZ 6 .faizas'aa was May 16,1939

AUTOMATIC rnonooasrn I 1 Carl -G. Johnson, Chicago, IlL, assignor to J.1'. I

Seeburg tion of Illinois Application May 17, 1937,

Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corpora- Serial No.1..86 I

7 Claims. (Cl: file-10) This inventionv relates to automatic phonographsand has for its principal object the provision of a simple, economical,automatic phonograph which is adapted to play a sequence of recordswithout attention.

A further obiect of the vide a phonograph which can very simply beadapted to play records of diflerent sizes.

A further object of the .invention is to pro-' vide a record changer inwhich the magazine can readily be adapted to play records of differentsizes, such adaptation automatically changing the throw of the tone armin accordance with the size of the records to be played.

A further object of the invention is to provide animproved means forgently moving the tone arm over the surface of the record so as to causeit to enter the sound track of the record, in case it has not done sowhen it first engages the record.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will appearfrom the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, takenin conjunction with the accompanying 25 drawings, in which: n Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved phonograph, parts of theturntable being broken away to show the mechanism, which is in thecondition of starting to play a 12" ,record;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the phonograph showing themechanism in. the same relation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the elements in aposition for starting toplay a 10" record;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the mechanism in unloading position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of my improved mechanism, the turntable,records, and tone arm being broken away to enable the mechanism to beshown on a large scale,- and the elements being shown in a position atthe starting of playing a 12"- record;

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view, taken on the I line 6-6 of Fig. 1; pFig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional plan view, taken on the line l--I ofFig. 5, the parts being shownin the same relation;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view, taken on the line 8-4 ofFig. 5, the parts being shown in the same relation;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail view, taken on the line 9-4 ofFig. 5, the elements being shown in the same relation;

Fig. 10 is a. vertical section through one of invention is to proin,Fig. 10. post the record supporting postathe section taken onthe linell-ll of P18- 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line ll-Il ofFig, 8;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken on the line i2--'l2 ofFig. 9; n

Fig. 13 is a'sectional plan view similar to Fig. 8, showing-the positionof the elements during the operation of supplying a 10', record to beplayed; I

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the mechanism which controls thethrow of the tone arm in its 12" position, and

Ill.

' Fig. 15 is a similar view showing this mechanism inits 10" position.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 2'0 designates aturntable which is supported on a spindle 2i. The spindle is carried bya gear box 22 which is actuated by an electric motor 23. The gear box 22and motor 28 may suitably be carried upon the underside of a motor board24. The turntable 20 may have a relatively free fit on the lower end ofthe enlarged lower endof the spindle ii. The under side of the turntablemay be provided with tapered projections 25 whlchare adapted to beengagedby a pin 2'8 carried by the spindle 2i.

In operation, when thesplndie 2i turns the pin 26 makes contact with oneof the projections 26 and drives the turntable. when, however, theturntable is subjected to arresting forces, the engaging projection 26may ride upwardly on the pin 26, thus lessening the shock.

The spindle 2| is relatively long and projects upwardly between a. pair'of record supporting posts 21'. These posts are suitably located atopposite ends of a diameter of the turntable. Each post consists of ahollow tube 28 which is rigidly secured at its lower end to, a gear 28.

In the case of the post in the left-hand side of Fig. 2, the gear. 29 ispivotally mounted on a pivot member 30 which is anchored on a sheetmetal base 3i which is seated upon the motor board 2'4. This base isprovided with a central opening I2 through which the spindle 2| passes.The pivot member II has rigidly mounted thereon a vertical rod l3 whichextends upwardly through the hollow tube 28 and carries at its 'upperend a cap 30. The tube 28, together with the gear. 25, is freelyrotatable on the vertical axis provided by the pivot member ill and thecap 34.

The other post, that is the post 21 onthe right-hand side of Fig. 2, isshown in section differs from that Just described in the provisionbetween the gear member' 29 and the pivot member 88 01' a sleeve whichcarries a radial arm 38. The boss of the sleeve 35' carries an upwardlydirected pin 83 which is normally located in the opening or recess 84 or85 in the gear 29. The gears 29 are in mesh with rack elements 31 on abar 38. This bar is provided with slots 39 through which extend screws40 rigidly mounted on the base 31. It will readily be seen that when theright-hand post 21 as viewed in Fig. 1 is rotated, the left-hand post 21is rotated in the same direction. Each of the posts 21 carries near itsupper ends three plates 4|, 42 and 43. As shown in Fig. 1, the plates 42are in a position to, receive and support a stack of 12" records.

42 are removed from engagement with the lowest record. However, beforecomplete disengagement occurs, theplates 43 have moved inwardly into thestack. The incoming ends oi! these plates 43 arerelatively thin and theyare located approximately. the thickness of one record above the plates42. Consequently, the plates 43 move inwardly between the lowest recordand the record immediately thereaboveand they undertake the su port ofall the records except the lowermost one. Consequently, when the plates42 clear the lowermost record, the same falls downwardly towards theturntable 20 and may arrive on the tiu'ntable or on top of one or morerecords located thereon. When the reverse movement 0! the ,bar 38occurs, that is its movement to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, theplates 42 resume theirinitial position and the plates 49 move away frombeneath the stack oi records. Consequently, this stack moves down andbecomes supported exclusively by the two plates 42.

The posts 21 and bar 39 are actuated by the arm 38 which is rigidlysecured to the gear 29 of the post 21 on the right-hand side of Fig. 1.The base 3| extends to a considerable distance to the right-hand side ofthe turntable, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, and at this end it carries aframe comprising two horizontal plates 44 and 45 which are securedtogether by means of bolts 46 and spacing tubes 41. In the upper plate45 is rigidly mounted a tubular bearing '48 (Fig. 11). This bearing 48receives a tubular member 49 which has rigidly mounted at its lower enda plate 50. At its upper end a bracket Si is rigidly secured thereto.This bracket is substantially L-shaped and to its downwardly projectinglength is pivotally mounted, by means of a bolt 55, a tone or playingarm 52, this player arm being also preferably L-shaped. The player armcarries at its free end a suitablepick-up 58 which is equipped with theusual needle 54. It will readily be understood that the tone a can moveup and down about the pivot 55 and it can rotate on the vertical axisprovided by the tubular bearing 48.

Through the tubular member. 49 slidably extends a rod 56. The upper endoi the rod 58 bears on the inner or under side 0! the tone arm 52 andthe lower end of the rod 58 rides on the upper edge of a cylindrical cam51. As shown in Fig. 11, the pin 58 is at its lowermost position and theplayer arm 52 is adapted to apply the needle to the uppermost oi anyrecords on the turntable 29. It may here be noted that when severalrecords are resting upon the turntable 20, the player arm 52 will have asomewhat higher position than that shown in Fig. 11. It will readily beunderstood that when the cam 51 rotates, a

When the bar 38 moves to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the plates'member 49. This plate consists of two portions 61 and 82. The normalposition of the roller I68 and cam 51 is shown in Fig. 8, this figureshowing the parts in position at the starting of the playing of .a12.record. As the record is played, the plate 58 moves in clockwisedirection. At the endof the playing of the record the cam 51 is causedto rotate in a manner which will hereinafter be more fully described, inthe counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs.

8 and 13. The first result of this rotation is the elevation of the pin55 and the tone arm 52. After this movement has been completed theroller 59 engages the portion iii of the plate and moves it in thecounter-clockwise direction,- thusswinging the tone'a'rm clear of therecords.

After this has been completed a new-record is caused to drop onto theturntable or onto the stack of records on the turntable, by the timelyactuation of the posts 21 and bar 28. The con- 59 causes it to come intocontact with the portion 62 of the plate 50, with the result that the ofa 12? record on the turntable. The roller 58 then clears the plate 82and moves to the position shown in Fig. 8. When the cam 51 is rotatingto move the roller to that position, a fall 83 of'the cam 51 moves underthe rod 58 and allows this rod to drop and allows the tone arm to comeinto engagement with the initial part of the sound track of the 12"record.

The arm 38 is pivotally connected to a link 85.

One end of the link 65 is pivotally connected to an arm 86. A spring 51,secured to the arm 88 and to the base 3!, tends to move the link 55 tothe right, as viewed in Figs. 7, 8-and 9. The righthand end of the link65 is engaged by a pin 88 on the under side of the gear 58 which isintegral with the cam 51. It will be seen with reference to Fig. 9 thatwhen the cam and gear element 51'58 rotates in the clockwise direction,the pin 88 will engage the end of the link 65- and move it to the left.This causes the right-hand post 21 to rotate in the clockwise directionand the bar 28 causes the other post 21'to move in the same direction,thus releasing the lowermost record of the stack supported by the posts21. It is to be noted that this occurs after the cam 51 is moved througha substantial angle and after the tone arm has been elevated and movedclear of the records by the cam rise 84 and by the engagement of theroller 50 with the part N of the plate 50.

The record changing cycle is controlled and actuated by a singlerevolution o1v the cam-gear unit 5158. The means whereby this'singlerotation is eii'ected will now be described. A small rubber-tired wheel69 is adapted to be brought into contact with the periphery of theturntable 28 at the end of the playing oi! a record. The

wheel 59 is connected to the cam-gear unit 51-48 through suitablegearing, so that a single revolution is applied to that unit. When thatrevolution tinned rotation of the roller 68 around the pivot tone arm ismoved inwardly to a position so that .the needle is above the initialpart of the track is completed, the rubber-tired wheel 89 is no long.-or applied to the periphery of the turntable 28. The rubber-tired wheel89 is rotatably mounted on an arm 18 which is loosely carried by avertical rod 1| which is 'rotatably mounted in the plates 44 and 45.

Upon the upper end of the rod 1| is rigidly mounted an arm 12 which isprovided with an upturned portion 13 which is adapted to be engaged bythe tone arm 52 when it moves inwardly of the sound groove after theplaying of a record. Also rigidly mounted on the rod 1| is a doublelever member 14 having one arm 15 adapted to cooperate with the freelymounted arm 18 and an arm 16, the end of which is adapted'to engage thecylindrical portion of the cam 51. The arm 15 is provided with a setscrew 11 so that its engagement with the arm 18 may be adjusted asdesired, so that the correct operation of the record changing mechanismafter the playing of a record, is insured.

The cylindrical wall of the cam 51 is provided with an opening 19 andwhen this opening is presented to the arm- 16 this arm enters into theopening and consequently the pressure applied by the screw 11 to the arm18 is released and the rubber-tired wheel 69 is no longer pressedagainst the turntable 28. The rubber-tired wheel 69 is no longer drivenwith the result that the cam 51 becomes arrested.

The rotation of the cam 51, upon which depends the record changingoperation, is initiated by the tone arm 52 coming into contact with theplate 13 after a record has been played. The tone arm swings the rod 1|so as to bring the rubber-tired wheel 69 into contact with the peripheryof the turntable 28. It will readily be understood that during therecord changing operation the tone arm 52 is moved out of contact withthe plate 13. Nevertheless, the cam 51 continues rotating until it hasmade a complete revolution, the rubber-tired wheel 69 being held. incontact with the turntable 28 by the engagement of the arm 15 of thedouble-armed member 14 with the periphery of the cam 51, and theengagement of the set screw 11 with the arm 18 upon which therubbertired wheel 69 is mounted. When a revolution of the cam 51 hasbeen completed, the arm 16 drops into the opening 18 and the drive ofthe cam 51 is terminated until the playing of the next record iscompleted.

The rubber-tired wheel 89 is rigidly mounted on a shaft which rigidlycarries a pinion 19 (Fig. 7). The pinion 19 meshes with a gear 88 (Fig.7) which is mounted for free rotation on the rod 1|. The gear 88 isintegral with'a. small gear 8| which meshes with an idler 82. Theidler82 meshes with the gear 99 (Fig. 13) which is integral with a pinionI88. This pinion meshes with the gear 58 which is integral with the cam51.

The foregoing description has been concerned with the device whenadapted for the playing or" 12" records. In order to play smallerrecords, for

example 10" records, it is merely necessary to elevate the right-handpost 21, as viewed in Figs. 1 and -2, so as to elevate the gear 29 abovethe pin 83. The upward movement of the post 21 is limited by theengagement of the inner end of the plate 43 with the head 34. The pin 88may be located in either of two recesses 84 and 85, as shown in Figs. 7and 13. The recesses 84 and 85 are located in such a way that when therighthand post 21 is elevated and rotated so 'as-to bring the pin 83into one recess 84,'or the other. recess 85, the machine is adapted forthe playing of 12'' or 10" records, respectively. Thus, it the machineis in the condition of adjustment shown maintaining the pin in mesh withthe rack 31.

The post 21 is then rotated in clockwise direction so as to bring theplates 4|, 42 and 43 into the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon thepost 21 is allowed to descendand bring the pin 83 into the opening 84. i

Owing to the fact that the right-hand pinion 29 remains in mesh with therack 31, the lefthand post is similarly adjusted. It will readily beseen that instead of operating with the plates 42 and 43, as shown inFig. l, as is the case with 12" records, the machine will now operatewith plates 4| and 42, as shown in Fig. 3. That is, this figure showsthe position of these plates at the beginning of the playing of a 10"record.

When the posts 21 are rotated for changing a 10 record, they firstrotate in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, and the plates42 penetrate between the lowermost record and'the second record from thebottom. At the end of the clockwise rotationthe plates 4|, whichinitially took the whole weight of the stack of records, clear the stackand the stack is then supported by the plates 42, the lowermost recordfalling downwardly towards the'turntable. When the reverse movementoccurs, the plates 42 are withdrawn from the stack of records which arethen supported by the plates 4| until the record playing operation hasbeen completed.

When the right-hand post 21, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, is elevated andturned around, as

described above, for the purpose of adapting the phonograph for 12"records or 10' records as the case may be, provision must be made forarresting the tone arm initially at the proper position for the recordbeing played. This adjustment is automatically provided by the followingmechanism. The bar 38 has an extension to the right, as viewed in Fig.1, which is upwardly bent to provide an elevated cam 86. A rod 81 ispivotally supported from the upper plate 45 by means of a bracket 88.

The rod 81 has at one end a downwardly projecting portion 89 which isadapted to be engaged by the cam 96 when the bar 38 is moved to the 12"record position by the adjustment of the right-hand post 21. Thiscondition is shown in Fig. 14. The rod 81 has rigidly secured thereto aplate 98 which is normally pressed downwardly by a spring 9| which bearsagainst the under side of the plate 45. When the phonograph is adaptedto. play 10" records the cam 86 does not engage the end 89 of the bar 81and consequently the spring 9|, presses the plate 98 downwardly so thatit engages a roller 92 mounted on the plate 58. When, however, thephonograph is set for 12" records, as shown in Fig..14, the bar 81 isrotatedfrom the positionshown in Fig. l5and the plate 98 is elevatedagainst the compression of the spring 9|.

The roller 92' is mounted on the plate 58 by means of a screw 93 soas toprovide for its vertical movement. The roller 92 is biased in the upwarddirection by means of an internal spring 94. A bell crank lever 95 ispivotally mounted on the plate 58 by means of a screw 98. One arm of thebell crank lever 95 is connected by a tension spring 91 to a suitablepoint on the plate 58 so that the other arm 98 of the bell crank lever85, is resiliently biased inwardly slightly with respect to the arm 82'of the plate 58, as shown in Figs. 8 and 13.

The manner in which the roller 68 in its rotation cooperates with thearms 6| and 62 has previously been described. It is to be noted thatwhen the tone arm is being returned to initial playing position, theroller 60 engages the arm 98 of the bell crank lever 85. Owing to thelightness of the spring 91 the bell crank lever 95 tends to swing aboutits pivot and if the machine is set for playing 12" records, the arm 98of the bellcrank lever will pass below the roller 92 which is in itsuppermost position, as shown in Fig. 14. Consequently, the tone arm isreturned to the proper initial position for a 12 record. When, however,the device is adjusted for a 10 record, the spring 9| depresses theroller 92, as shown in Fig. 15. Consequently, when the roller 60 engagesthe arm 98 of the bell crank lever 95 and pushes it outwardly towardsthe arm 82 of the plate 50, this movement a is arrested by theengagement of the arm 98 with the depressed roller 92. This engagementoccurs when the inner edge of the arm 98 is located somewhat inwardlywith respect to the arm 62 and consequently the tone arm is swungfurther inwardly to the initial position necessary for a 10" record.

It will be understood that the movement of the bar 38 from its initialposition occurs first to the right, as viewed in Figs. 8 and 13, andthen to the left, as viewed in these figures. These directions areopposite in Figs. 14 and 15. That is, the cam portion 86 moves first tothe left and then to the right, as viewed in these figures. It will beseen from Fig. 14, which corresponds to adjustment for a 12" record,that during these movements-the arm 89 remains in contact with the cam86. As shown in Fig. 15, which corresponds to adjustment for a 10"record, the cam 88 remains out of contact with the am 89 during thesemovements.

In the operation of the device the posts 21 are arranged for the playingof the desired size of record and then these records are placed upon theappropriate plate 4| or 42, as the case may The motor 23 is then startedand a first record may be dropped onto the turntable 20 by merely movingthe plate 13 inwardly by hand or by contact with the tone arm 52. Themachine will then go through its normal cycle and the needle 54 will beplaced at the initial playing position with respect to the record. Itwill be noted that owing to the resilience of the spring 91, the initialengagement of the tone arm with the record will be accompanied by aslight inward movement which insures the needle 54 being carried intothe initial groove of the record.

The records will be played one after the other in the manner abovedescribed, and the last record will be played repeatedly until theoperator stops the motor by means of a conventional switch (not shown).When the motor is stopped one or more plates ll, 42 or 43 will be on thebar 38. This post is then rotated in the,

counter-clockwise direction, as viewed from In this way the left-handpost 21 is also moved into the position shown in this figure so that itclears the records on the turntable. These records may now be removedand the posts 21 may be again adjusted to support records of the desiredsize. Before this is done, however, a single record may be placed on theturntable so that the machine does not have to go through a recordchanging cycle before playing commences. That is, for the first recordthe tone arm 52 may be located by hand. At the end of the playing ofthis record the automatic record changing operation of the phonographcomes into operation and so on, until the complete stack of records isplayed. I

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that such details are not intended to be llmitative liveredto the turntable on each complete oscillation of the posts, an adjacentpair of each set of said plates being operable with records of one sizeand another adjacent pair of each set of said plates being operable withrecords of a diflerent size, and means for bringing corresponding pairsof sai'd plates of all of said posts into operating relation with theturntable to adapt the phonograph for playing records of a selectedsize.

2. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable, oscillatable posts, aplate on each post for supporting a stack of records of certain size,and adapted to clear the stack during oscillation of the post, a secondplate mounted on the post approximately the thickness of a record abovethe first said plate adapted to support the stack with the exception ofthe lowermost record during said oscillation, a third plate on each postin angular relation to the first and second plates for supportingrecords of diflerent size, said plates being movable into and out ofalignment with said records, operating means for oscillating the posts,and means for locating said posts in relation to said operating means toadapt the machine for lowermost during said oscillation.

3. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable, oscillatable postsadjacent thereto, longitudinally spaced escapement plates on said postsand movable therewith, said plates providing two pairs of plates on eachpost, the plates of each pair being adapted to cooperate with recordsoi. a definite size, one plate of each pair being adapted normally tosupport a stack 0! records above the turntable, the other plate of eachpair being adapted to enter the stack above the lowermost record whenthe plate is oscillated from normal position whereby the lowermostrecord of the stack is delivered to the turntable each time the postsare oscillated, an actuating member for oscillating one of said posts,drive means operatively connecting all of said posts,

, means for changing the orientation of the posts relative to the stackwhereby the pair of plates on said posts adapted to play records of aselected diameter, are brought into operation, atonearm adapted tocooperate with the topmost record on the turntable, means for swingingthe tone arm clear of the records and returning it to initial playingposition, last said means and the actuating member being interconnectedso that the posts are oscillated when the tone arm is clear of therecords, and contact means associated with the tone arm and the meansfor swinging the tone arm, and controlled by said drive means forvarying the return of the tone arm to initial playing position.

4. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable, oscillatable postsadjacent thereto, longitudinally spaced escapement plates on said postsand movable therewith, said plates providing two pairs of plates on eachpost, the plates of each pair being adapted to cooperate with records ofa definite size, one plate of each pair being adapted normally tosupport a stack of records above the turntable, the other plate of eachpair being adapted to enter the stack above the lowermost record whenthe plate is oscillated from normal position whereby the lowermostrecord of the stack is delivered to the turntable each time the postsare oscillated, an actuating mem-' ber for oscillating said posts, meansfor changing the orientation of the posts relative to the stack wherebythe pair of plates on said posts adapted to play records of a selecteddiameter, are

' brought into operation, a tone; arm adapted to cooperate with thetopmost record on the turntable, means for swinging the tone arm. clearof the records and returning it to initial playing position, last saidmeans and the actuating member being interconnected so-that the postsare I oscillated when the tone arm is clear of the records, cam means onsaid actuating member, and means actuated thereby and associatedwith thetone armand the means for swingingthe tone arm for controlling thereturn of the tone arm to initial playing position to definite degreefor records of the selected diameter.

5. An automatic phonograph comprising a turntable, oscillatable postsadjacent thereto, longitudinally spaced plates on said posts movabletherewith, said' plates providing two pairs of plates on each post, theplates of each pair being adapted to cooperate with records of adefinite size, one plate of each pair being adapted normally to supporta stack of records above the turntable, the other plate of each pairbeing adapted to enter the stack above the lowermost initiating rotation5 record when the post is oscillated from normal position whereby. thelowermost record of the stack is delivered to the turntable each timethe posts are oscillated, an actuating member for simultaneouslyoscillating said posts, means for changing the orientation of the postsrelative to the stackwhereby the pair of plates on the posts adapted tosupport and discharge records of a selecteddiameter, are brought intooperation, a tone arm, cam means for raising and lowering the tone armand moving it outwardly clear of the records and inwardly to its,initial playing position, means actuated by the tone arm for 01 the cammeans, means for arresting said cam means after a single rotation, andabutment means operatively associated with the cam means and the tonearm adapted to be actuated by the means for changing the orientation ofthe posts for controlling the initial playing position of the tone armin accordance with the means'for setting the supporting means to adapt Isame to receive records of a desired size, a tone arm operablyassociated with said turntable, a bifurcated member operativelyconnected to the tone arm, a cam member adapted to engage one arm of thebifurcated member to throw the tone arm clear of the records, a contactmember pivotally' mounted on the other arm in the path of the cam memberand weakly biased towards said cam member and adapted to be engaged bythe cam member to move the tone arm to initial playing position, andmeans associated with the. set ting means to limit the movement of thecontact member on the bifurcated member, whereby the tone arm may bemoved to different initial playing positions. '7. In an automaticphonograph, in combination,' a turntable, means for supporting a stackof records in dispensing relation thereabove, means for setting thesupporting means to adapt same to receive records of a desired size, atonearm operably associated with said turntable, a bifurcated memberoperatively connected to the tone arm, a cam member adapted to engageone arm of the bifurcated member to throw the tone arm clear ofthe'records, a contact member pivotally mounted on the other arm adaptedto be engaged by the cam member to move the tone arm to initial playingposition, a spring'biasing the contact member weakly inwardly, a movable

